PURPOSE: To use a stepper motor by making two small-size rotary turrets maintained on a central support core interact with an element to be punched fed between upper and lower punch elements.

CONSTITUTION: This multiple character-holding apparatus for punching machines 11 provides an element to be punched 13 such as a plastic card or the like on a punching position 12 of a pair of punch drive mechanism 14 equipped with a hammer 15 to be worked on a punch 16. A lower turret 19 and an upper turret 20 interacting with the element to be punched 13 are rotatably maintained on a central support core 18. The support core 18 is driven rotatively via transmission by a first motor means. And each rotary turret 19, 20 is provided with second motor means 29, 30. In this case, the sizes of the rotary turrets 19, 20 can be reduced, therefore a stepper motor can be used as a motor means.